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UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 includes three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Prelims has two objective papers, including the CSAT qualifying paper with negative marking. Mains has nine descriptive papers, with seven counted for merit. The interview is a personality test. Understanding the pattern helps plan preparation effectively.
UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 provided clarity on the number of papers, questions, and marks of each paper. Candidates preparing for the UPSC exam must understand the exam pattern and syllabus for both Prelims and Mains. The exam consists of three phases: Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test.
Go through the complete UPSC Paper pattern 2026 to understand the syllabus better. It will also help candidates prepare for the exam effectively.
To succeed in the UPSC IAS Exam, candidates must thoroughly understand its year-long cycle, which includes the Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. Below, you will find a detailed overview of the UPSC exam pattern 2026 and UPSC marks distribution for each stage:
| UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 Overview | ||||
| Stage | Exam Type | Number of Papers | Total Marks | Qualifying/Scoring |
| Prelims | Objective (MCQ) | 2 Papers | 400 Marks | Qualifying |
| Mains | Descriptive | 9 Papers | 1750 Marks | Scoring |
| Interview | Personality Test | 1 (Interview) | 275 Marks | Scoring |
| Total | 2026 Marks | – | ||
The UPSC Prelims exam consists of two papers: General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2 (commonly known as CSAT). Both papers are held on the same day.
General Studies Paper 2, or the CSAT, is a qualifying paper. Candidates must achieve a minimum of 33% to qualify. It is important to familiarise yourself with the UPSC CSAT syllabus to ensure your success in this paper. Additionally, you should review the UPSC Prelims exam pattern and the marks distribution for the exam.
| UPSC Exam Pattern for Prelims 2026 | ||
| Type | General Studies Paper I | UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern |
| Questions | 100 Objective Type | 80 Objective Type |
| Marks | 200 Marks | 200 Marks |
| Negative Marking | +2 Marks/Question and -0.66 Negative Marks/Question | +2.5 Marks /Question and -0.83 Negative Marks/Question |
| Duration Of Exam | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Qualifying Marks | Marks are considered for merit | Qualifying in Nature |
| Languages | English and Hindi | English and Hindi. |
There is a provision of negative marking in the IAS exam pattern for the prelims exam, where 1/3 of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for an incorrect response.
| Exam | Total no. of Questions | Total Marks in UPSC Prelims | Marking Scheme in UPSC Prelims – Negative Marks |
| General Studies-1 | 100 | 2 x 100 = 200 | -0.66 |
| General Studies-2 (CSAT) | 80 | 2.5 X 80=200 | -0.83 |
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern consists of a total of 9 descriptive papers, with two papers qualifying in nature, four papers for General Studies, and two papers for optional subjects.
Candidates have the flexibility to choose an optional subject for the Mains exam based on their preference and expertise.
Paper A and Paper B are qualifying papers, while the remaining papers are considered for merit. Candidates must score a minimum of 25% in each paper to be eligible for the final merit list.
There are also penalty marks for UPSC Mains that are followed by violations of the writing instructions set by UPSC. Check out the exam pattern and UPSC Mains marks distribution
| UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| Paper Number | Paper Name | Nature of Paper | Marks | Duration |
| Paper A | Indian Language | Qualifying | 300 | 3 hrs |
| Paper B | English | Qualifying | 300 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 1 | Essay | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 2 | General Studies 1 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 2 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 3 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 4 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 6 | Optional Paper 1 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 7 | Optional Paper 2 | Considered for Merit Calculation | 250 | 3 hrs |
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The UPSC exam pattern 2026 includes a personality test or interview as the final round before the final merit list is announced. Candidates who pass the UPSC Mains Exam will be called for the Personality Test, conducted by a board appointed by the UPSC.
The Interview test carries 275 marks, while the total marks for the written examination are 1750, making the Grand Total of 2026 Marks. This total determines the final merit list.
| UPSC Exam Pattern for Interview 2026 | |
| UPSC Syllabus for Interview | Not Specified |
| Duration | 20-30 minutes |
| Total Marks | 275 |
| Location | Union Public Service Commission Head Office, New Delhi |
| Dress Code | Formal Attire |
Ready to boost your UPSC 2026 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
The UPSC exam is a big national exam in India that selects officers like IAS, IPS, and IFS. It has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
The UPSC exam has three parts: Prelims: Two objective-type papers. Mains: Nine descriptive papers. Interview: A personality test. Your final selection depends on your Mains and Interview marks.
Yes. In the Prelims exam, marks are cut for wrong answers. For every wrong answer, one-third of the marks for that question are deducted.
The CSAT is the second paper in the Prelims. It checks skills like reading, maths, logic, and reasoning. It is only a qualifying paper, which means you just need to score the minimum passing marks.
There are 9 papers in the Mains exam. Two are qualifying language papers, and the remaining seven are counted for the final result.
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